We are so excited to begin offering adaptive lessons in a band setting! As a team, we have realized the need for our kiddos to build meaningful relationships with their peers. Music gives people a unique opportunity to build community together--by building creative and beautiful products together! For all of human history, people have built society around song--it is our means of expressing the experience of life together. This is why we have chosen to offer adaptive lessons in a small group setting of 2-3 kiddos. In this setting, kids will learn how to play an instrument of their choice (piano, percussion, ukulele, guitar, or voice) while also learning how to play with other people. The goals of these groups are two-fold. On one hand, learning an instrument builds individual cognitive and fine motor skills, and on the other, learning to play music with other people builds listening, group cooperation, and social skills. Our hope is that through adaptive lesson small groups, our kiddos will learn autonomy and self-confidence of being individually responsible for their own part, while also learning to work with and build meaningful relationships with their fellow group members. This group setting is for kiddos that want to build social skills, and want to build musical skills, but need a therapeutic setting to do so. The great thing about this group, is that it is for kiddos that may have some experience on an instrument or no experience at all! To find out if adaptive lesson groups would be best for your child, call Perry Wright LPMT, MT-BC (229-347-2767). MT will have a consultation with the family to form bands.
Click here to check out Therabeat Inc.'s article in the current issue of the Woodstock Family Life magazine (page. 40).
One of the musical interventions I have seen in my first couple of weeks at Therabeat is improvisation. Improvisation is defined as, “the art of creating music spontaneously on the basis of nondirective activity.” This can be done in many different ways including drumming, singing, playing piano, or any other instrument we use in music therapy. This can be especially helpful in achieving goals with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Sara Knapik-Szweda conducted a study to determine the effectiveness and influence of vocal and instrumental improvisation on children diagnosed with autism. She discussed the reciprocal interaction between the therapist and patient and how meaningful that is to the musical improvisation. Improvisation provides a safe environment within the musical structure for the patient to be creative. The main goal of her study was to determine the influence of improvisation on communication, social development, and reduction of repetitive behaviors. She found that nonverbal communication, social skills and cognitive goals including joint attention, concentration, memorizing and imitating were all improved in the patients who participated in improvisational music therapy sessions.
Many of our patients here at Therabeat have Autism, so this is a great way we can help them achieve their goals. Incorporating improvisation into their sessions will allow them to foster creativity as well as get closer to their communication, social, and cognitive goals.
Source: Knapik-Szweda, Sara. (2015). The Effectiveness and Influence of Vocal and Instrumental Improvisation in Music Therapy on Children Diagnosed with Autism. Journal of Education Culture and Society (1), 153-166.
-Lauren Booke, Music Therapy Intern
Hello! My name is Lauren Booke, and I am coming to Therabeat from Belmont University. I have worked with a variety of populations in my schooling, but have always enjoyed working with kids the most. Being able to go to the In Harmony clinic and see the smiling faces every day has been such a warm welcome to the Therabeat community.
These first two weeks have been filled with introductions. Getting to meet all the staff at In Harmony and not only observe the Music Therapists, but Speech, Physical and Occupational therapists as well has been so much fun. Having the opportunity to learn from all of these disciplines is incredible as I establish my clinical skills. All of the therapists are so welcoming and explain what they are working on with each patient so I can transfer that knowledge to my patients.
Meeting all of the patients I will be working with for the next six months is so exciting. Each and every one of them is so unique and I can’t wait to see the growth that they will accomplish during my time with them. There have of course been some moments where some time is needed to adjust to the new person in the room, but I know that will come soon enough. It is amazing how much growth I have already seen in just two weeks. These kids are capable of so much and we are so blessed to get to work with them every week and help them accomplish their therapeutic goals.
I feel like I have already learned so much in such a short amount of time from everyone at Therabeat. All of my supervising music therapists are so patient and kind and I appreciate everything they do for the new interns. Like our patients, they are each unique and it is incredible to watch them all treat patients in their own way. I know that these six months will be challenging at times, but more rewarding than I ever could have imagined.
Looking forward to sharing my journey with all of you!
Until next time,
Lauren
My name is Dana LaValley. I studied Music Therapy at Georgia College and State University for the past four years. I am from Springfield, Georgia about forty-five minutes away from Savannah. I am engaged to a wonderful man named Dale Usry. We will be getting married on December 8th, 2017. I have always had a passion for music and helping people; now with Music Therapy I can do both.
In my time at Georgia College I worked with several different populations: children with disabilities, adults with disabilities, hospital patients, and adults in memory care. I emerged myself in research on Music Therapy’s effect on children with Angelman Syndrome. I presented at our regional conference where I was awarded the undergraduate research award. I plan to continue my research throughout my masters and my doctorate.
My first week at Therabeat Inc. was absolutely amazing! The music therapists are so helpful and truly want you to succeed. In my first week I saw a range of populations, from tiny tots to adults in memory care. I have a rounded atmosphere to achieve my goals for my internship. I am beyond amazed by the talent the clients have. They are pushing me to be a better musician. From scales to rockstar drumming it amazes me how able they are. I love to focus on ability and not disability; I feel it is a very important aspect of music therapy.
I was able to observe all of the other therapies as well. I have already learned so much about what they do and how we can incorporate some of their aspects into what we do as music therapists. I cannot wait for the next few months so that I can grow more in my journey of becoming a music therapist.